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Future Ready:

On-Ramps to Registered Apprenticeship for Youth

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Apprenticeships are the Future of Work

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Speaker Introductions

Apprenticeship Colorado

Terra Thiebaut

Debbie Shackelford

Youth Engagement Specialist

Colorado Community College System

CTE Work-Based Learning &

Apprenticeship Alignment

Program Director

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Agenda

Objective: By the end of the presentation, you will have an understanding of the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center for youth ages 16-24 and learn of updates to the alignment of the registered apprenticeship system with the Career and Technical Education System in Colorado.

Apprenticeship Colorado System Overview
Registered Apprenticeship Overview
Future Ready Apprenticeship Center
CTE and Apprenticeship Alignment Updates
Overview of Quality Pre-Apprenticeship
Feedback Session and Q&A

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About Apprenticeship Colorado

Apprenticeship Colorado is the State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment that has the responsibility for:

Registering and overseeing apprenticeship programs
Providing technical assistance to current and prospective Sponsors
Aligning the registered apprenticeship system with Colorado’s workforce, education, and economic development priorities

Other duties as assigned in statute.

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Registered Apprenticeship Overview

Debbie Shackelford, Youth Engagement Specialist

Apprenticeship Colorado

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What is a Registered Apprenticeship?

Registered apprenticeship is an industry-vetted, nationally recognized training model that helps new and existing employees with paid, on-the-job learning and career advancement.

Definition:

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Registered

Apprenticeship

Programs (RAP)

Core Components

On the Job Learning (OJL) Develop skilled workers through customized and structured learning in a work setting.

*2,000 hrs/year

Paid Job

Apprentices are paid employees who produce high-quality work while they learn skills that enhance their employers' needs.

Related Instruction (RI) Improve job-related skills through education in a classroom setting (virtual or in-person).

*144 hrs/year recommended

Mentorship Provide apprentices with the support of an experienced journeyworker.

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Important to know!

Debbie

The four core components of a registered apprenticeship program:

It’s a paid job! You are a hired employee from day one and receive a paycheck while you learn. And, your pay is guaranteed to go up as you master more skills.
On-the-job Learning. You spend the majority of your time doing hands-on work at the actual job site. The purpose is to prepare apprentices for a successful career, which includes instruction from an experienced mentor. *2,000 hours per year
Classroom instruction: You attend classes to learn the technical theory behind the work. *minimum of 144 hours per year recommended

Mentorship: You are paired with an experienced worker who guides you and teaches you the ropes.

Please note, I have circled the word “Registered” in red. Here is a heads-up, if you are looking at an Apprenticeship opportunity and it doesn’t have the word registered, it probably does NOT meet the high-quality national standards for safety, fair pay, and training rigor. This distinguishes it from informal internships or unofficial training programs.

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3 Key Roles Within Registered Apprenticeships

Employs the apprentices and provides the on-the-job learning. Drives program design of both the on-the-job learning and the related instruction.

Registers and administers RAP. Can be the employer, institution of higher education, sector partnership, industry associations, joint labor-management organizations, or other intermediary.

Provides the classroom instruction. Can be the employer, high school, community college, technical school, four-year institution or other training provider.

Employer

Sponsor (Administrator)

Related Instruction Provider

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Future Ready Apprenticeship Center “The Center”

Debbie Shackelford, Youth Engagement Specialist

Apprenticeship Colorado

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On Ramps for Youth 16-24

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Apprenticeship Colorado is embarking on a new, exciting initiative to scale on-ramps to registered apprenticeship for youth ages 16-24 in collaboration with the US Department of Labor (USDOL) and CareerWise USA.

The Future Ready Apprenticeship Center will serve as a national hub to support the development of partnerships, infrastructure, innovative tools, and national solutions to expand and enhance high-quality, sustainable RA programs and systems for youth nationwide.

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Goals of the Center

Apprenticeship Colorado and CareerWise will partner to accomplish the following goals:

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Set Clear Models: Develop guidelines for apprenticeships for youth at high schools, colleges, and for out-of-school youth.

Help States Build Systems: Support a select consortium of states with system plans to expand apprenticeship for young people and link education and apprenticeship.

Align Education and Training: Connect apprenticeships with schools and careers, especially Career and Technical Education (CTE).

Clarify and Reduce Risks: Address questions about legal issues, workers’ compensation, and wages.

Engage Employers and Partners: Bring together businesses, schools, and organizations to create more opportunities.

Promote Apprenticeships for Youth: Create an online hub with resources, training, and a nationwide campaign to raise awareness.

Use Data and Research: Improve tracking of program success and share what works.

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Apprenticeship Colorado Activities

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Document Models of Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities for youth ages 16-24

Pilot and document onramps to Registered Apprenticeship for youth ages 16-24

Build networks, alignment and social infrastructure with employers

Provide Strategic Leadership, Project and Grant Management of the USDOL Cooperative Agreement

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On-ramps to Apprenticeship for Youth

Pilot on-ramps to Registered Apprenticeship for youth ages 16-24 including:

Career Seeker Registered Apprenticeship Orientations
Training for career coaches, school counselors, work-based learning coordinators on apprenticeship
Regional Apprenticeship Expos
Subgrants to Increase Access to RA Opportunities for Youth in Colorado
CTE & Apprenticeships Alignment
Expansion of pre-apprenticeships

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Build partner networks, education, community based organizations serving youth and registered apprenticeship program Sponsors & employers

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#1

Registered Apprenticeship: What It Is and How to Find Programs - A Guide for Career Support Professionals

Monthly on the 3rd Wednesday, 10-11 AM
Zoom Registration Link

Who should attend?

Anyone who helps connect individuals to career opportunities in Colorado, including: Career Coaches, Counselors, CTE Instructors, Work-Based Learning (WBL) Coordinators, Educators, and Career Navigators from Community-Based Organizations.

Join us for a recurring monthly training hosted by Debbie Shackelford, Apprenticeship Colorado, designed for individuals who serve and guide career seekers. This session focuses on connecting Coloradans with Registered Apprenticeship (RA) opportunities. During this session you’ll learn foundational information about RA as a viable career pathway and receive hands-on training on using the RA Directory to show career seekers where to find and access RA opportunities in Colorado.

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Announcing New

Training Opportunities

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#2

Apprenticeships Explained for Career Seekers: Examples, Benefits, and Where to Find Them

Monthly on the 1st Wednesday, 10-10:45 am
Zoom Registration Link

A 30-minute orientation to Registered Apprenticeship for career seekers ages 16-24. Attendees will learn what a Registered Apprenticeship looks like, including real-world examples, its benefits, and where to find Registered Apprenticeship opportunities. Following the orientation, attendees can opt-in to 1:1 support from our Qualified Apprenticeship Talent Intermediaries.

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Announcing New

Training Opportunities

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Youth Engagement Grants

Youth Engagement Grants are competitive awards with a maximum award amount of $100,000 that support organizations to pilot strategies that increase awareness of, access to, and participation in Registered Apprenticeship Programs for youth ages 16-24 in Colorado.
Youth Engagement Grant opportunity is anticipated to be posted in early February.

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Regional Apprenticeship Career Expos

Coordinate and host two Regional Expos annually (the goal)
The first will be in Denver Metro during the National Apprenticeship week, April 27 - May 1st
Next up: Fall Expo

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How Colorado Partners Can Plug in to the Center

Help us spread the word about our two new training opportunities

Registered Apprenticeship for Career Support Professionals
Registered Apprenticeship Orientation for Career Seekers Ages 16-24

Help us spread the word about our upcoming grants to pilot onramps to apprenticeship for youth ages 16-24
Help us spread the word to school districts to complete this brief survey on work-based learning activities
Stay up to date with CareerWise and their activities at the national level

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Disclaimer

The Future Ready Apprenticeship Center (The Center) is supported by the U.S. Department of Labor. The project is 100% funded by $12.5 million of federal funds. Of those funds, $8.8 million is subawarded to CareerWise.

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Colorado Youth Apprentices Success Stories

"My apprenticeship has been a unique experience that allowed me to grow with support from every angle. What sets it

apart is that you aren't expected to know everything on day one; instead, you are actually paid to learn on the job and

develop over time. This quality apprenticeship has built my skills and my confidence, and helped me envision a clear

career path much quicker than a typical first job ever could. Give it a try! You definitely won’t regret jumping at this

opportunity." Angela Ocampo, Marketing and Design Apprentice, Pinnacol Assurance

“Apprenticeship has helped me achieve goals that will set me up for greater success in my future by learning skills I never thought I’d ever have, [like] administering vaccines, drawing blood, and being more outspoken with and for patients. Being part of the healthcare field for the betterment of patients’ lives is something very special to me, and I cannot wait to continue doing what I do.” - Anhal Chavez, Medical Assistant Apprentice (Watch Ana’s Success Story)

Sam, at age 19, began as a 1st year Sheet Metal Worker Apprentice making $43,000 (includes value of full benefits!).

“This apprenticeship taught me how to communicate on a professional level and gave me confidence.” -

-Luis, graduated apprentice and full-time employee at Gallegos Corporation.

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Updates: SB 24-104: CTE & Apprenticeships

Terra Thiebaut, Program Director for WBL and Apprenticeship Alignment

Colorado Community College System CTE

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SB 24-104 Key Activities

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Conducting Research

Understanding the early adopters statewide and other states’ approaches

Communications Planning

Providing updates via presentations to key stakeholder groups, planning to market frameworks

Identify Data Points & Best Practices

Identifying data to demonstrate success with CTE Alignment, sharing best practices

Expanding Pathways

Share job-specific frameworks statewide for RAP and CTE adoption

Planning for Advisory Board

Exploring options for Advisory structure, expecting to launch by early 2026

Terra

Key Activities Aligned to SB 24-104

Conducting Research

We're mapping the landscape of early adopters across schools and employers. We created an interest form that was shared with schools in the Spring to understand who had initial interest in this project and their familiarity with CTE and Apprenticeship programs.
We're also learning from peer states—connected with North Carolina, New Mexico, and New York—to inform our approach.�

Identifying Data Points & Best Practices

We’re also evaluating what data is currently available across both systems (ex. RAPIDS, Apprenticeship Directory, CTE Gateway).
We're individually gathering and sharing best practices to build a strong foundation going into this next year.�

Communications Planning

We’re providing project updates to stakeholder groups as soon as possible.
A broader communications strategy is underway, including plans to market frameworks statewide once developed.�

Planning for the Advisory Board

We plan to launch an Advisory Board by the end of 2025.
The initial focus will be the infrastructure/ construction industry, and the advisory board will work to create job-specific alignment frameworks.
The initial advisory board will help define the structure, mission, and deliverables for alignment efforts moving forward including future industry advisory boards.�

Expanding Pathways

Long-term, the goal is to develop and share CTE/RAP-aligned frameworks statewide.
The process and model from the first advisory board will be replicable in other industries starting in 2026.�

Looking Ahead

The most intensive phase of work will take place between Fall 2025 and July 2026, as the advisory board develops the first framework.
That model will serve as a template for continued alignment work across additional industries.

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SB 24-104 Timeline

SB 24-104 Signed

Maddy is hired as Apprenticeship Colorado’s Education Alignment Specialist

Onboarding, Strategic Planning, Initial Presentations and Meetings with CTE and RAP Stakeholders

CTE/RAP Advisory Board approved by the SAC

Spring 2025

May 2024

January 2025

Fall 2025

November 2024

Terra is hired as the CCCS CTE Program Director for Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Alignment.

January 2026

First Advisory Board launch, Construction focus

Terra

Background & Team

The CTE Alignment legislation, SB 24-104, was signed into law in May 2024.
As part of implementation, Terra and I were hired in complementary roles—Terra joined in November 2024, and I came on board in January 2025.
These parallel positions were intentionally designed to work closely together to bridge the systems of Career & Technical Education and Registered Apprenticeship.

Progress Over the Past Six Months

Our early efforts have focused on:

Onboarding and building our knowledge of both the CTE and Registered Apprenticeship systems,
Strategic Planning for the next year (including planning for stakeholder engagement and landscape analysis activities),
Engaging with CTE and apprenticeship stakeholders through presentations and meetings (groups like WBL CoP, CACTA, and Project Scale)

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CTE-RAP Pathway Example

Integrated Career and Education Pathway

Thompson School District serves as the RAP Sponsor, Employer, and RTI Provider, directly linking CTE courses to their RAP in the occupation IT Support Technician.
The District has formalized the CTE-to-RAP transition—students earn CTE credentials, then apply to be hired as an apprentice, earning college credit + industry credentials.

Student Benefits

Paid, on-the-job training starting at $18/hr while completing high school CTE coursework
Dual enrollment for college credits via concurrent RTI
Industry-recognized certifications and employer experience

Key Takeaway: By embedding Registered Apprenticeships directly within its CTE structure Thompson School District is preparing students for in-demand careers with earn‑while‑you‑learn opportunities, academic credit, and industry recognized credentials before they graduate high school.

Thompson School District, IT department

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Terra

This is just one model that integrates these two systems.

Source: https://www.tsd.org/departments/its/meet-the-team/student-apprenticeship-program

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMPY-ZbhC6g&list=TLGG4NWDwDbDLK4xODA3MjAyNQ&t=127s

Contact at Thompson School District: Susan Scott, susan.scott@tsd.org

More information about TSD’s process: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGmI7frvqY/dU4AQFjH1C6drVg01VmHxw/view?utm_content=DAGmI7frvqY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h81ec9d02ff#4

Applicants will utilize the Xello work-based learning network system to learn about and apply for apprenticeship positions. Applicants request the apprenticeship in Xello, connect with the work-based learning Specialist and Counselor for eligibility check, then complete an application in Xello.

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Quality Pre-Apprenticeship

Debbie Shackelford, Youth Engagement Specialist

Apprenticeship Colorado

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Quality Pre-Apprenticeship

Partnership with RAP Sponsors

Programs must partner with at least one Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) Sponsor.

Hands-on Training

Hands-on learning tied to education and training allowing for career exploration and connecting coursework skills to future jobs

Industry-Aligned Coursework

Training and curriculum should align with the skill need of employers of the State or region.

Industry-Recognized Credentials

Programs should provide the opportunity for participants to earn at least one industry-recognized credential.

Access to Career and Supportive Services

Programs should provide resources such as career counseling and financial aid.

Key Elements

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Debbie

A pre-apprenticeship program is a training model designed to assist individuals who may not currently have the minimum requirements to enter into a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP).

Five elements of a quality pre-apprenticeship:

(a) Training and curriculum that aligns with the skill needs of employers in the economy of the State or region involved;

(b) Access to educational and career counseling and other supportive services, directly or indirectly;

(c) Hands-on, meaningful learning activities that are connected to education and training activities, such as exploring career options, and understanding how the skills acquired through coursework can be applied toward a future career;

(d) Opportunities to attain at least one industry-recognized credential; and

(e) A partnership with one or more registered apprenticeship programs that assists in placing individuals who complete the pre-apprenticeship program in a registered apprenticeship program.

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-681/subpart-C/section-681.480

The SAA has not established any further criteria for state recognition at this time.

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Quality Pre-Apprenticeship

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Quality Pre-Apprenticeship Programs create a skilled talent pipeline and a diverse talent pool for Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs).

A quality pre-apprenticeship program must partner with one or more RAP Sponsor and may feed into one or multiple occupations.

There are a wide variety of organizations that provide Pre-apprenticeship programs in Colorado including community colleges, employers, community-based organizations, and RAP Sponsors.

Find frequently asked questions and a quality pre-apprenticeship self-assessment on the Apprenticeship Colorado Pre-Apprenticeship Website.

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Resources

Debbie Shackelford, Youth Engagement Specialist

Apprenticeship Colorado

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Receive Apprenticeship Communications

Attend our trainings - Apprenticeship Colorado offers a wide range of training opportunities that you and your staff can tap into.

Highlight: The Monthly Expansion Call is for partners across the state that serve career seekers and employers that may be interested in apprenticeship.

Sign up for our Newsletters - Apprenticeship Colorado sends out regular communications to different audiences Sign up for the communications that apply to you.

Contact Us: Email us at apprenticeship@state.co.us

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Colorado Registered Apprenticeship Programs Directory

http://apprenticeship.colorado.gov/directory

Colorado maintains an Apprenticeship Directory of all of the Registered Apprenticeship Programs operating in Colorado
Your go-to resource for all Registered Apprenticeship Programs operating in Colorado
Includes information such as;

Contact Information
Length
How to apply
Qualifications
Program Costs
If hiring this year

Useful tool for career exploration
Is not a Job Board - it is a useful tool for career exploration

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RAP Ready: Video Series

Your Complete Guide to Registered Apprenticeships

Resources for Expanding Your Apprenticeship Program

Registered Apprenticeship 101

Making Changes to Your Program

The Program Development Process

Registered Apprenticeship for Career Seekers

Roles and Responsibilities in Registered Apprenticeship

Overview of the Apprenticeship Documents

Apprenticeship Partners: Strengthening the System

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Helping Employers Develop Their Own RAPs

Partners can connect employers interested in developing their own RAPs to Apprenticeship Colorado’s Registered Apprenticeship Orientation for assistance with program development and registration.

Registered Apprenticeship Orientation covers all the essential elements necessary to develop, register, and implement a Registered Apprenticeship Program in Colorado!

At this orientation, Sponsors will learn about the key components of a registered apprenticeship, roles and responsibilities as a Sponsor, and the wide range of services Apprenticeship Colorado offers to support in launching a Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Plus, dedicated time during the session to help potential Sponsors decide if registered apprenticeship is a good fit for their workforce needs.

Referring Employers to Apprenticeship Colorado

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Explore the Apprenticeship Colorado Website

Apprenticeship Colorado has a robust website and subpages - check it out!

The following pages in particular are meant for schools, students, and families:

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Resources and Flyers

Resources

Flyers for Career Seekers

Flyers for Employers

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COWBL.ORG

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Q&A

and

Feedback

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Thank

You!

Debbie Shackelford

Debbie.Shackelford@state.co.us

Terra Thiebaut

Terra.Thiebaut@cccs.edu

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